Fundraising is an Art and a Science
Nonprofits of all sizes need and deserve professional fundraising expertise, especially when navigating a complex and challenging funding landscape. These are my primary areas of consulting work, either on a project or retainer basis.
Areas of Expertise
- Institutional Support: Foundation & Corporate Grants
- Corporate & Individual Sponsorship
- Major Gifts
- Individual Giving, “Mid-Level” Donors
- Donor Circles, Annual Giving
- Appeals
- Planned Giving
- Donor Recognition & Stewardship
- Re-envisioning annual galas and other events
- Creation of signature or anniversary events
- Honoree and committee member pipeline and expectations
- Sponsorship and pricing structures for in-person and virtual events
- Recommendations for detailed action plans and deadlines
- Supporting committees and leadership in their fundraising roles
- Integration with campaigns and donor stewardship
- Training and coaching relevant staff
- Developing effective strategies for approaching institutional donors
- Training how to assess grant-maker match
- Developing alternative strategies to letters of inquiry
- Engaging stakeholders in forging connections
- Delivering important proposals and letters of inquiry
- Building a bookshelf of templates and attachments
- Development communications plans
- “Investor communications”
- Donor recognition strategies
- Integrating case for support across organizational communications
- Creating donor-facing collateral including case statements
- Recommending website and social media content
- Designing direct mail, email, social media, and integrated multi-channel appeals
- Developing Annual fund campaigns and special appeals
- Facilitating Board retreats and meetings
- Supporting relevant Board committees
- Equipping Board members to articulate a case for support and elevator pitch
- Delivering governance audits and best-practice recommendations
- Strengthening governing documents; codifying roles and responsibilities (including give/get)
- Building strategic Board recruitment and nominating
- Addressing diversity needs
- Full Board and leadership training and coaching
- CRM transitions to/from Salesforce and other platforms
- CRM development and enhancements
- “Superuser” of Salesforce NPSP, Raiser’s Edge, Donorperfect, and others
- Codifying database, data management, and reporting best practices
- Gift acknowlegement and accountability
- Development list management
- Auditing current development infrastructure
- Creating recommendations for staffing and infrastructure needs
- Developing job descriptions and advising on recruiting practices
- Creating proposed measures of success for staff roles
- Coaching executive and/or board leaders 1:1 in their fundraising activities
- Supporting leaders in their development-related communications
- Providing speaking points and/or copy for development-related written communications or presentations